KMTT - the Torah Podcast

​​​​​​​Ramban On The Torah | 07 | Devarim, by Rav Eli Weber

​​​​​​​Ramban On The Torah | 06 | Matot-Masei, by Rav Eli Weber Sometimes the Ramban adds a comment that causes us to see a whole story in the Torah differently. The war with Midian is a good example of this. Same thing with Mosheh's "PTSD" with the request of the two tribes to live in Ever Hayarden. And, of course, the Ramban's great love for Eretz Yisrael.

Matot-Masei | The Tribal Portion of Menasheh and the Enigma of Bamidbar 32, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Bamidbar 32  includes a negotiation between Moshe and leaders of Gad and Reuben, who wanted to remain on the east bank of the Jordan to enjoy the broad and lush grazing land for their plentiful flocks and herds. The agreement was to allow these two tribes to build on the east bank but only to settl...

Pinchas | The Unusual and Reprehensible Worship of Baal Peor, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The inspiring story of Bil'am's blessings is offset by the description of the sin of the people in their worship of Baal Peor. That act of widespread treachery is resolved by Pinchas, where he earns his priestly status. Yet the entire story is, upon close inspection, enigmatic and puzzling. What is the relations...

​​​​​​​Ramban On The Torah | 05 | Pinchas, by Rav Eli Weber What does it mean to be a Kanai and what are the risks? If Bnot Moav sinned with Bnai Yisrael, why "Tzaror et Ha-midyanim"? Why do Bnot Tzelafchad tell Moshe that their father wasn't part of Adat Korach? What is Parashat HaTamid doing in this week's parasha?

​​​​​​​Ramban On The Torah | 04 | Balak, by Rav Eli Weber One of the major differences between Rashi and the Ramban is how they see biblical figures. Rashi sees them in 2D; once he decides that someone is good, he picks out Midrashim that support that view. Same for people Rashi sees as bad. The Ramban, who came after, sees biblical figures in 3D. This is a good person, but he's not perfect. Or, t...

Ramban On The Torah | 03 | Chukat, by Rav Eli Weber Most of us think we know what the word "chok" means.

Chukat | The Decree Against Moshe Revisited, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The story of Moshe's striking the rock and the subsequent Divine decree, relieving him of his role as the leader, is a challenging one, both as far as the nature of the violation as well as the severity of the punishment relative to a seemingly "trivial" violation. We explore the unusual wording, repeated 3+1 time (thrice in com...

Korach | The Midrashic History of Datan and Aviram, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The leaders of (part of) the rebellion against Moshe, Datan and Aviram, first mentioned in the context of the Korahide rebellion, are pictured by the Midrash as being a thorn in Moshe's side (to put it lightly) from the beginning of his career. We explore the methodology of Midrash on two planes - both the textual associa...

Ramban On The Torah | 02 | Korach, by Rav Eli Weber Stepping back and understanding how this episode really played out.

Ramban On The Torah | 01 | Shelach, by Rav Eli Weber

Shelach | Why Did Yehoshua and Kalev Rend Their Clothes? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In addressing Yehoshua and Kalev's clothes-rending response to the people's insurrection, we examine the phenomenon of Keriat Begadim in Tanakh and its direct and consistent association with contrition. We also address a broader methodological issue of how we are often blinded to the development of characters in Tana...

Behaalotekha | "The Loyalty of Your Youth" Pesach, Clouds, Trumpets and Travels, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Whereas many ask why there was only one instance of bringing the Pesach during the forty years in the desert - in our Parasha), the opposite question might be posed - why was it brought at all? Based on the instructions given to Bnei Yisrael at the Exodus, Korban Pesach was to brought (only) o...

Beirakhnukhem MiBeit Hashem: The Final Chapter of Hallel, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this, the final shiur in the series, we explore the longest chapter in the collection which we refer to as "Hallel Mitzrayim" and note the seemingly jagged switches from the public call to thanksgiving, the intensely private confession of salvation from a mortal threat, to the national song of thanksgiving, culmi...

Shabchuhu Kol HaUmim: The Fifth Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this, the 5th shiur in the series, we explore the abrupt turn from the personal and subjective praise of psalm 116, which is presented in the singular and, as I proposed, led by an individual who has come to the Mikdash with a קרבן תודה in thanksgiving to God for personal salvation. Our short psalm - the shortest chap...

The Four Ripple Effects of the Six Day War, by Rav Moshe Taragin Shiur given to talmidot at Migdal Oz.

After the Fire: The Lasting Message of Lag BaOmer, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb. What's the true meaning of Lag BaOmer and how can we take that message with us throughout the year? Shiur given at Kehillat Haela (RBS).

Mah Ahavti: The Fourth Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this, the fourth  shiur in this series, we explore the notion of contextuality and authorship as regards Tehillim. We then study the text of the fourth chapter with an eye towards the four goals in any study of Tehillim - (1) the meaning of the words (2) the poetic structure of the psalm (3) the message of the psalm and (4) it...

Shavuot | Mi-macharat Ha-Shabbat Revisited, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The fiercest intra-Jewish dispute in the first half of the first century CE was over control of the calendar. The flashpoint of this disagreement revolved around two words in Vayikra 23, where the Omer was to be offered ממחרת השבת. Whereas our tradition dictates that the "שבת" in question is the first day of פסח, regardless of wh...

Lo Lanu: The Third Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom One of the highlights and most debated points regarding the celebration of Yom haAtzmaut is the recitation of Hallel (Tehillim 113-118). In this, the third shiur in this series, we explore the recurring polemic against idolatry in Tanakh along with the background to "skipped Hallel". We then study the text of the third chapter with a...

Shiur given in commemoration of the eighth yahrzeit, at Cong. Rinat Yisrael (Teaneck, NJ)

Recollections of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l - on His 8th yahrzeit, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Tazria | אם לנקבה ואם למקרא: Limitations and Flexibility in Reading and Interpreting the Text of the Torah, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The opening passage in פרשת תזריע, the rule of the יולדת, includes an awkward word when detailing the duration of her impurity when giving birth to a girl: וטמאה שבעים כנדתה. The key word שבעים, is vocalized "Shevu'ayim" (i.e. "a pair of weeks") and that is, indeed,...

BeTzeit Yisrael MiMitzrayim: The Second Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom One of the highlights - and perhaps the ultimate purpose - of the Seder evening is the recitation of Hallel  ( Tehillim 113-118 ), the first two chapters of which are sung at the end of Maggid. We explore the general framework of Hallel, the rabbinic discussion about its authorship and the various "Hallels" that...

Pesach | Hallelu Avdei Hashem, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What is the message behind the first chapter of Hallel? One of the highlights - and perhaps the ultimate purpose - of the Seder evening is the recitation of Hallel (Tehillim 113-118), the first two chapters of which are sung at the end of Maggid. We explore the general framework of Hallel, the rabbinic discussion about its authorship and the...